INDIAN SCHOOL MUSCAT

SENIOR SECTION

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
CLASS IX

DATE:

Rain on the Roof

Coates Kinney
Summary
The poem ‘Rain on the Roof’ talks about the poet’s varied reactions to the sound of raindrops falling on the
roof of his house. Poet says that the raindrops at night are like tears shed by the sad, dark night. He loves to
lie in bed and hear rain falling on the roof of his room because it gets back sweet memories of the past. He
says that the sound of rain drops helps him fall asleep and gives him sweet dreams. He has memories of his
loving mother who would put them to sleep.

Explanation:
The poet is trying to describe how he feels on a rainy day. He states that when it rains he start recalling all
his past memories. He lays on his bed in a cottage and listens to the pitter patter sound of the rain. As he
keeps on listening to the sound of rain he start remembering his old days when he used to be a little boy. He
remembers his mother who is not with him now, but he says that her memories are still with him. He
remembers how his mother used to take care of him during rainy days so that he might not catch a cold. He
remembers all the sweet memories of his past while listening to the sound of the rain.

Poetic Devices:
1. Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound in two or more consecutive words.
2. Onomatopoeia: The use of sound words to create a dramatic effect and auditory imagery.
‘Patter’,‘tinkle’ is the use of sound word. It is the sound made by the rain drops falling on the roof top.
3. Personification: Treating a non – living thing as a living being. Darkness has been personified when he
says that it is sad. Recollection is personified when he says that they weave dreams.
4. Transferred Epithet: The use of an adjective with a noun when it refers to another noun. In ‘melancholy
darkness’, the darkness is not melancholy, but it refers to the sad people.‘dreamy fancies’ – it does not
mean that the fancies are dreamy but refers to the people who have dreams.
5. Rhyme scheme of the poem: abcbdefe
I. Read the extracts below and answer the questions that follow:
1. When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed
(a) What does the poet imply by ‘humid shadow’?
(b) What does the phrase ‘starry spheres’ refer to?
(c) What does the poet consider to be a ‘bliss’ in the rainy season?
2.
Every tinkle on the shingles
Has an echo in the heart;
And a thousand dreamy fancies
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 Into busy being start,
And a thousand recollections
(a) What finds an echo in the heart of the poet?
(b) How does this sound of the rain affect the busy mind of the poet?
(c) Trace a word from the extract that means ‘memories’.
II. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words
1) Describe the weather just before the rain starts.
Ans : As described by the poet, the weather before the rain is humid. It is dark, and the starry night sky is
covered by thick clouds just before it begins to rain.
2.What does the poet wants to do when it rains?
Ans : When it rains, the poet wants to lie snugly in his cosy cottage with a soft pillow under his head. He
wants to enjoy the rhythmic, soft music of the raindrops falling on the roof.
3.How is the mood of the poet contrasted with the mood of darkness?
Ans :Whereas the darkness is in a sad and gloomy mood, the poet is in a happy mood as he considers it a
bliss to lie comfortably in bed pressing the head against the pillow and listening to the music made by the
showers of the rain.
4.What is the impact of the tinkle of the raindrops on the poet’s heart?
Ans : The tinkle of the raindrops echo in the heart of the poet as if his heartbeat responds to every sound of
the rain by its rhythm. Moreover, the rain kindles many memories in the poet’s mind and he gets lost in
dreamy imagination.
5.Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
Ans : The poet is no longer a child. He has grown up and his mother is no more alive. He thinks of his
mother and his childhood with a feeling of nostalgia which makes it clear that his mother is no more.
III. Write a diary entry in about 120-150 words about the most important experience that you
recollect.
(Day&date) (Time)

Dear Diary

As I lie here comfortably in my bed enjoying the melodious music of the soft rain falling on the roof, I feel
that some experiences, buried in my unconscious mind have surfaced today. I recall the day from my
childhood when it was raining at night and I was in bed along with my brothers and sisters. Mother walked
in our room and looked upon us with affection and warmth in her eyes. I can never forget the love with
which her face glowed as she bent over us one by one to put us to sleep. We were like her prized treasures
and dreaming darlings. It is a bliss to recall Mother’s angelic eyes and smiling face amidst the gentle sound
of the rain.Miss you mom.

Coates Kinney

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